Ink-fountain-adjusting device.



H. F. BECHMAN.

INK FOUNTAIN ADJUSTING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY24, 1914.

Patented Aug. 13, 1918.

8 SHEETS-SHEET i.

V anvnto o H. F. BECHMAN.

INK FOUNTAIN ADJUSTING DEVlCE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 24. I914.

Patented Aug. 13, 1918.

8 SHEETSSHEET 2.

H. F. BECHMAN,

RNK FOUNTAIN ADJUSTING DEVICE. APPLICATION FIL'ED 1uLY24. 1914.

Patented Aug. 13, 191&

8 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

H. F. BECHMAN.

INK FOUNTAIN ADJUSTING. DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY24. I914.

Patented Aug. 13, 191&

8 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

u H. F. BECHMAN.

' INK FOUNTAIN ADJUSTING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED 1u'LY24. 1914.

Patented Au 13, 1918.

8 SHEETS SHEET 5.

E minia moz 4 %MM akin mag;

um Imam x H. F. BECHMAN.

INK FOUNTAIN ADJUSTING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY24. I9I4. 1 ,275,642 Patented Aug. 13, 1918.

8 SHEETSSHEET 6- EEFQILELB g. I mime :I J H H. F. BECHMAN. INK FOUNTAIN ADIUSTING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 24. 1914. 1,275,642. 'Pate11tedAug.13,1918.

8 SHEETSSHEET 7- 5 v1 neuter 9 QXhImaooeo H F, BECHMAN. lNK FOUNTAIN'ADIUSTING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY24. 1914- 1 275,642 Patented Aug. 13, 1918.

8 SHEETSSHEET 8.

Bali

amuudot @Wm o I HENRY r. IBECHMAN, or BATTLE dam-x, MICHIGAN, ns'srsnoa 'ro DUPLEX ram'rme rnnss comm, or narrnnonnnx, MICHIGAN, A oorsrolwrrolv or women.

To allwhom it cowern.

Be itknown that I, 'I'IENRY F. BEcHMAN,

a citizen of the United States, residing'at Battle Creek, in the county of Calhoun and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useul Improvements in Ink-Fountain-Adjusting Devices; and Ihereby de-- clare that the following is a full, clear, and

exact description thereof, reference, beinghad to the accompanying drawings, which form part '"of this specification.

This invention has'particular reference to inking mechanisms for large printing presses and othercolor applying machines, and its major object is to enable the amount of ink supplied from any ink fountain to be controlled by means located at any desired point remote from the fountain; and whereby difierent amounts of ink may be supplied by the same fountain at difierent points of its length, and the amount of ink'supplied at any "desired point in the length of; the

at the will of the operator.

fountain roll can be increased or diminished use in web printing machines, and when applied to newspaper presses another object 1s to enable the ink supplied from any fountain to the form for, prmting any given column of a newspaper-to be increased or.

diminished at will without having to stop the operation of the machine.

The invention is desi ed for ,use with the ordinary type of ink E ing presses in which the amount of delivered by the fountain roll is controlled by as'craper blade and the-distance, or pressure contact, between the edge of the scraper blade and the periphery of the fountain roll is regulated by screws; Heretofore these screws have been ordinarily manipulated individually by hand, so as to regulate the supply of ink; and in large presses the pressman, in order to adjust the'several fountains, 7

had to climb to the different tiers of the press; and sometimes hadto stop the press F to enable the proper fountain ad ustment to.

be made.

Another object of this invention is pro:

vide meanswhereby the screws of such fountains can befadjusted individually and mechanically; andanother object is to provide electrically controlled means for individ ually operating the several fountain screws.

My invention more specifically provides Specification of Letters Patent.

ountains for rintmx-roumaru-emusrme nnvzcn. 4 r I Patented Aug. 13, 1918. I Application filed m 24, 1914,; Serial m5. 852,840.

means whereby each fountain of a press, or any set of fountains, may be controlled from a central point or switchboard, and the operator by simply pressing the proper buttons thereon ean increaseor diminish the supply of inkobtained' from any given fountain, at any point or section in the length of the fountain roll. The controllingdevices can be located at any convenient point and in practice would be preferably located where the operator can observe the product of the press and can incpease or diminish the'supply of .ink to any part'of the width of the paper, or printed web, as

he pleases, without his having to leave the spot, and if the color on the web be too "and is very convenient especially where the large machines having fountains are op several superposed decks, orwherc the fountains are placed in inconvenient and inaccessible places, where. it would be' diflicult or inconvenient to make the adjustments byhand.

7 I It will be obvious that the general features of the invention can be embodied in various constructions and I do .not consider the invention in its broadest aspect restricted to any specifi construction.

- vIn the preferred form of the invention each ink fountain has a series of independent screw operating devices which are preferably electrically controlled; and a controller is provided having a series of switches or push buttons for the corres onding. series of screw operating devices. lectrical' connections are provided between the push buttons and the related screw operating" devices, whereby when the proper ,push button is operated the related screw will either be tightened or slacked, so as to permit more or less ink to flow out, of the fountain and come in contact with the ductor roller. By pressingj'and releasing the buttons quickly the screws can be adjusted very delicately.

Thepresent preferred construction is that illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4: of the drawings, which will be first described, various other practical constructions are shown merely to 1 illustrate the capability of. embodiment of the invention in numerous forms and not to lar to Fig. 1 showing another embodimentof the construction.

Fig. 6 is an end elevation of the ink founiigin and screw operating devices shown-in Fig. 7 is a plan view of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a section'on the line 8-8, Fig. 6.

Fig. 9 is a diagrammatic View similar to Fig. 1 showing another embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 10 is an. enlarged end elevation partlyin' section of the fountain and screw adjusting devices shown in Fig. 9.

Fig. 11 is a plan. view of'Fig. 10. Fig. 12 is a section on line 12 12 Fig. 11. Fig. 13 is a diagrammatical plan view showing another embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 14. is an end view partly in section of the fountain and screw adjusting devices shown in Fig; 13. Fig. 15 is a plan view of Fig. 14. F Fig.4,16 is a detail section 'on line 16'16,

-i 1 l n the construction illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4 of the drawings, B designates the ink fountain, A the fountain roll, and C the .scraper blade which is attached to a top bar D extending across the fountain. Through the upper edge of bar D above the free edge of the blade Caretapped a series of screws E, which are arranged along the length of the blade C and are independently adjustable, so as to hold the free edge ofthe blade 0 moreor less closely in relation to, or in contact with, the periphery of'the roll A. Preferably blade C is continuous and extends across the entire fountain but .is made ofametal flexible enough to allow the screws to slightly vary the contact or distance between its edge and the roll when the screws are adjusted.

The above described parts of the fountain are well known and manyof the present used ink fountains are so constructed. Usuplan view of panacea ally the number of screws correspond to the number of ordinary newspaper columns of matter which can be printed side by side and troublesome task to adjust the different fountains.

In my invention I provide mechanical preferably electrically controlled means for adjusting the screws of any ink fountain from any convenient point of the press as above stated. In the construction shown in Figs. 1 to 4 on each screw E is loosely mounted a worm gear G which isprovided with a clutch face 9 on its side opposite an opposed clutch face '7 on a collar F which 1s splined. on the screw E as shown,-and is normally upheld so as to disengage the.

clutches f, g, by means of a bifurcated lever J which is pivoted at O on a bracket (1 attached to .abar D; the other end of this lever is connected to one end of a spring K, the other end of which is attached to bar D as shown, said spring normally separates the Clutches 7, g', the separating movement of the clutches being limitedby a stop pin M with which lever J contacts.

The lever J has on its rear end an armature j which lies opposite an electro-magnet,

or pair of electro-magnets, L which is attached to the upper portion of the bracket.

(Z in such position that when these magnets are energized they will attract the armature 7' thereby overcoming the resistance of spring K and also collar F and engaging clutches f, g, thereby locking the gear G to the screw. These magnets L are controlled as hereinafter. explained.

The gears G are It will be obvious from the foregoing that if the shaft I be driven and the gear-G on referably worm gears I and each meshes with a related worm H any screw be locked to said screw by enf gagement of the clutch faces f, 9, said screw will be turned and therefore raised or lowered (according to the rotation of shaft 1,)

and it will move the adjacent portion of that it can be caused to run in either direction, and rotate shaft I right or left at will. Or an optional construction would be with two motors, one connected to run to the riglht and/the other tothe left.

he rotation of the motor and the engagement of clutches f, g of any screw are controlled from .a switch board indicated in the drawings at S. This switch board I By pushing button U the has two push buttons U and V which are connected by wires a, c to the motor Q, and each of said wires is connected in circuit with a suitable-source of electrical energy. electric current is directed through the motor in one direction; and by pushing button V the current is directed through the motor in the opposite direction. It is unnecessary herein to illustrate the electrical connections, in detail'as they will be-varied to suit the press, and will be readily understood and supplied by an electrician and the specific electrical connections between the push buttons and the motor, and between the push buttons and the magnets, are not claimed herein.

Each magnet, or 'pair of magnets, L is independently connected by. conductors or wires T to an independent push button R on the switch board S. For example, in a large presswhose cylinders are designed to print twentyour newspapercolumns and whose ink fountain has twenty-four screws, the switch board S would have twenty-four push buttons R, the switch board being preferably divided into sections correspond ing in number with the screws of the related fountain, als in Fig. 1 The ush button R on each section is connected y wires T to the mag net L controlling the clutch of the related screw. Each set of conductors 'TYis connected to a battery or other suitable source of electricity in a wellknown manner (not shown) s'o-that when button R is depressed circuit is established from the battery through the-button R, wires T, and connected magnet L; and the latter upon belng energized will attract the related armature j and throw the related clutch f,g into mesh, so that the related screw will be operated.

' In practice it is not desirable to run the motor Q continuously, and therefore when it is desired to operate'any screw I prefer to first push the button R to cause the clutch .onthe related screw to lock the gear tosaid screw; and then push button U, or V, to.

close the circuit through the motor and a cause shaftI to rotate in the desired direction,thereby'moving the screw up or down, LCGOI'dIIIg as deslred stick and will disengage as soon asthe ma 7 gear G and as indicated by the numer-- .bar D; lghe pawl H is normally he to have more or less' ink supplled at that point. When operated in this manner the clutches are not apt to button R, which button should be held down until button U, or V, is released.

'While I have shown gears G and H as worm gears, other forms of gearing could be used; and it is obvious that the 'invention is not dependent upon the specific construction of the parts.

In Figs. 5 to 8 I have shown a modifica tion in which the parts lettered similarly to those-in Figs.1 to 4 correspond in construction with similarly lettered parts in said'figures. In this modification each screw E is provided with a disk F having a stem f on which is fitted a disk f which is secured'at f Mounted on the sleeve f is an electro-magnet L and surrounding this magnetand loosely interposed between the disks F and f is an annular gear G. This gear G." meshes with a worm H onthe shaft The magnet L is fixedly attached or clamped between the disks F and f and the gear G is simplyloosely held around the magnet L unless the latter is energized. Interposed between the periphery of the net L and the worm H are armature plates Z which may be semicircular, and placed on opposite sides of lugs g attached to the gear-G'.. When the, magnet L is energized, the armatures Z are attracted and held firmly against the periphery thereof when they then abut against the lugs 9 they cause the screw to turn with the magnet. Accordin to the direction of rotation of the gear G the screw E is turned right or left, and increases or decreases its pressure on the blade'C.

Any suitable magnetic clutch may be used to lock the gear G to the screw E at wi l, and any suitable electrical connections may the inner periphery of the mag:

be provided for closing the circuit through the magnet L to engage the clutch. As shown, ,each electro-magnet L is connected by conductors T to push-buttons R on the switch board S, and these operate substantially as above expl'ained.

In the constructions shown in Figs.'9 to 15 the screws are individually operated by means of ratchets instead of screws.

The parts A, B, C, D, E, are similar to those above "described; but each screw E is provided with a pair of oppositely facing ratchet pinions F Gr.

The ratchet F is adapted to be-engaged by. a nawl H pivoted on a screw J" attached to a slotted bar K extending longitudinally of and guided-in a'groovein the top ffthe d out of agement with the gear F by means of a spring k attached to the tail of the dog and to anadjacent fixed point. The ratchet 'Gr is engaged by a pawl I also pfiv -oted on a stud J andnormally held out of engagement with the'ratch'et G by a spring i The tail of each pawl forms an armature,

and the armature of pawl H" stands opposite an electro-magnet L mounted upon the its related ratchet F and by pushing a but-.-

ton N its related pawl I will be thrown into position to engage its related ratchet G. A set of push buttons and controlling magnets is provided for each screw Eon the fountain.

The bar K should be reciprocated longi tudinally so as to cause any pawl which is engaged with a ratchet to operate the same; for .this purpose I have shown the bar K as provided with a pink ada ted to engage a grooved cam g on a shaft 8 having a gear 8 meshing with a pinion on'the shaft of the motor Q. In this instance the motor need not be reversible, and it is shown as con-.

nected with a suitable source of electricity and controlled by a button V on the switch board S, in a well known manner.

In this'construction when it is desired to operate any screw the related button V may be depressed causing the motor to start and reci rocate the bar K; then the related but-- ton or N", of the screw which it 03.5 desired to shift is depressed, according to whether the operator desires to increase or lessen the pressure of such screw on the 40 blade 0. In this constructionthe button R or N may be depressed before the motor is started in operatlon.

In the construction shown in Figs. 13 to 16 the parts A, B, C, D and E may be constructed as above described; but on each screw E is fixed aratchet pinion G. and above this pinionand loosely pivoted on the screw E is a lever J which projects over the bar D and on its free end has an armature j which lies intermediate a pair of magnets P and P mally 'with its armatureintermediate the" magnets by means of a spring H attached 1 to a support D on the bar D on which the magnets P, P are also mounted; said spring having itsfree' end engaged between pins I attached to the lever J, as shown.

. A double armed pawl G: is pivotally suspended beneath the lever J by means of a bolt K, as shown. When the lever J is in normal position both arms of the pawl G are disengaged from the related ratchet G and may be held in this position by means of pins D? attached to the bar D which 5 are engaged by cam projections G on the The lever J is held 'nor-' trolling device, by simply making the proper pawl G. The construction is such that if the lever J be swung to the left the right arm of the pawl will engage the ratchet G and'turn the screw to the left while the other arm of the pawl is kept away from 7b the ratchet. If the lever J be swung to the right, the left arm of the pawl G will engage the ratchet D and turn the screw to the r1ght.- Of course, when the arm J is in an intermediate position both arms of the pawl thereon are out of engagement with the related ratchet G. In order to move each lever J in either direction I employ two magnets P and P for each lever armature. The magnet P is so arranged that when energized it will attract the adjacent armature j and draw same to the left; and the magnet P when energized will draw the lever J to the right. Each'electro-magnet P is connected by electrical conductors with 'a source of electricity, not shown, and with a push button M; and each magnet P is connected by electrical conductors with a source of electricity, not shown, and a push button R on the switch board S, substantiallyas before described.

When a push button M is depressed the related magnet will be energized and draw the related lever J to the left, thereby turning the pinion G and related screw to the left. When a button R is depressed, the

related magnet is actuated and the related "this way, by pressing the proper buttons,

any screw can be turned to left or right, so as to diminish or increase the amount of ink supplied by the fountain roll at this point. As the screws E are close together to save space the armature y" of the alternate levers J may project in opposite directions and the pairs of magnets P, P may be arranged in upper and lower series, as indicated in the drawings. o p In the drawings I have simply shown 1n each instance one fountain and one set of 1 5 controllin devices but if desired any number of simllar fountains provided with such adjusting devices could be simultaneously controlled from one switch board or conelectrical connections between the switch board and the screw controlling devices of that-the screws are all operable by hand 1f desired to do so. When the push buttons 'are not depressed it is obvious that the gearing or ratchet mechanism is completely out of mesh and the thumb-screw is free for manual'operation in any of the constructions shown. Therefore in case of failure of the electric current the fountain adjustments could bemade as is now customary.

, What I claim is p 1. In combination a fountain having supply regulating devices, electrically controlled fountain.

means for adjusting the said devices, and means for throwing .saidelectrically controlled means into or out of action located at a point remote from the fountain. I

2. In combination a fountain having a series of supply regulating devices; with means for independently adjusting said regulating devices, and means for independently electricall controlling the several adj ustmg devices om a point remote from the a. In combination with in ink fountain having an ink regulating late and screws for adjusting said plate; 0. electrically controlled means for independently pperating said screws to increase or dimmlsh the amount of ink supplied from the fountain,

and means for. controlling said electricalmeans located at a: remote from the fountam.

4. In combination with an fountain having adjustable devices for regulating the amount of ink delivered by the fountain and means for individually operating said devices; with controlling devices located at a point remote from the fountain, and connections between said controlling devices 3 and the several operating means, substantially as described.

' 5. In combination with an ink fountain, having a series of screws for adjusting the ink supply; of mechanical devices for independently adjusting the screws; electric the V for turning the latter, devices beside the,

,means' for controlling the mechanical devices; and a circuitcontroller for said electric controlling devices located at a point.

remote from the fountain.

6. In combination With-".331 fountain havin a plurality. of screws for adjusting supply; of members on the screws screws engaging said members to turn. the

screws, electrically controlled means for generally on the screws for turning the latter, devices beside'the screws engaging said members to turn the screws, a driven shaft for operating the said devices and electrical means for throwing any device into operation.

8. 'In combination with an ink fountain having a roll, a scraper plate, and a plurality of screws for adjusting the plate; of

members on the screws for turning the latter, devices beside the screws engaging said members. to turn the screws, anelectric motor driven shaft for operating the said means, and a series of push buttons and connections for controlling the operation of the individual screw operating means.

9. In combination, an ink fountain having a roll, a scraper plate, and a series of screws for adjusting said plate and roll;

with gears for operating said screws, a motor driven shaft for operating said gears, a clutch for locln'ng each gear'to its screw,

electro-magnets controlling the clutches, a

series of push buttons, and electricalconnections between the push buttons and said electro-magnets for individually controlling the clutches.

- 10. In combinationv with a fountain roll,

scraper, and scraper adjusting screws; of

means on the screws for turning them, actue ating devices beside each screw en aging the said means, and a .mechanism all of said actuating devices simultaneously;

with a series of push buttons and electrical connections whereby the'driving mechanism may/be operated 'at will, and any individual screw actuating device can be set in operation.

11. In combination with an ink fountain havin aseries o'f adjv screws, a gear on 68.51 screw, a clutch. for 00 the gear to the screw, a drive shaft carry ng gears meshing with the gears on the screw, means for operating said shaft, and means for throwing the clutch of any screw into engagement withits gear to cause said screw to be operated. n

12. In combination, an'ink folmtain having a series of adjusting screws, a gear on each screw, a clutch for locking the gear to the screw, a drive shaft carrying gears meshing with the gears on the screw, means for operating said shaft, and means for throwing the clutch of any screw into engagement with its gear-to cause said screw to be operated; electro-m'agnets controlling the clutch throwing means, and a series of push buttons and electrical connectionswhereby said magnets may be controlled from a point remote from the fountain. .c

l 13. In combination with an' ink fountain having a roll, a scraper, and a series'of adjusting screws, a gear on each screw, a clutch for locking the gear to the screw, -a drive shaft carrying gears meshing with the gears onthe screw, means for-operating said shaft,

means for throwing the clutch of any screw ply regulating'devices, means for adjusting into engagement with its gear to cause said the said devices, and means for throwing screw to be operated; and electro-magnets said adjusting means into or out of action controlling the' clutch operating means, a located at a point remote from the fountain. 15 5 series of push buttons and electrical con- In testimony that I claim the foregoing as nections whereby said magnets may be vconmy own, I aflix my signature in presence of trolled from a point remote from the fountwo witnesses.

tain; an electrical motor for operating said v HENRY F. BEOHMAN. drive'shaft, and connections for controlling Witnesses: 10 the operation of said motor. I. K. S'roNn,

14;. In combination a fountain having sup- CHADS. A. GRAMES. 

